Re: losing rhizomes

On Thu, 25 Sep 1997, Bill Shear wrote:
> >>
> >> > I was wanting to know if there is anything that I can do this
> >> >late in the season to help the irises short of moving them? I have a
> >> >feeling that I can't do much and I will have to learn from this mistake.
>
> > Or, you can take your digging fork, stick it under the clump, and
> >raise it gently. Then poke under the elevated clump a good handful of
> >alfalfa pellets and another handful of peat moss. Push the clump back
> >into position. Water it if it needs some. Do this now!
>
> These irises are in the wrong place. The north side of a house is simply
> too shady to support decent growth and bloom. Alfalfa and peat moss, I
> suspect, will make the situation worse by encouraging more moisture and
> decay.
>
>
>
> Bill Shear
> Department of Biology
> Hampden-Sydney College
> Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
> (804)223-6172
> FAX (804)223-6374
> email<bills@tiger.hsc.edu>
>
>
I have irises on the north side of the house in MS and have
performed the practice I described above on plants I neglected to separate
and appeared to be on the decline. I have not lost one plant with this
procedure. I would never have recommended it if I had not had experience
with it. I would not want to kill my plants or anybody else's!
Walter Moores
Enid Lake, MS 7/8